THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY’S FAMILY CONCERTS AND TINY TOTS PERFORMANCES RETURN TO BENAROYA HALL FOR IN-PERSON EVENTS DURING THE 2022/2023 SEASON
ADDITIONAL MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON SEATTLE SYMPHONY LIVE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Symphony announces the 2022/2023 schedule of its full concert series offerings for younger audiences: Family Concerts, Tiny Tots and Tiny Clips. The Symphony presents these educational and enriching family-friendly performances in support of the musical development of the youngest listeners in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. These series focus on inspiring musical exploration by children and their families. The Symphony is excited to present the return of in-person Family Concerts and Tiny Tots performances at Benaroya Hall for the first time since February 2020. At the podium will be newly appointed Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor Sunny Xia, who makes her Benaroya Hall conducting debut at the first Family Concert of the season on November 5.
As part of the Symphony’s commitment to supporting musical enrichment and education, additional free youth-focused programming and supplemental materials are available at the Seattle Symphony’s Virtual Learning Resources webpage. This programming also serves as a helpful resource to music educators in Washington State and beyond
Family Concerts
Throughout the 2022/2023 season, Family Concerts will be available in-person at Benaroya Hall. Geared toward younger audiences, ages 6–12, Family Concerts help build musical memories through timeless musical stories. This year, these engaging concerts for younger audiences and their families include holiday favorites, and song and dance from around the world.
November 5: Nature Resounds explores the great outdoors with a program that encompasses Tan Dun’s beautiful and interactive piece, Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds.
December 3: The Snowman revives the favorite holiday tradition of this classic children’s film as accompanied by the Symphony, with a sing-along for the whole family.
April 1: The Peasant Prince showcases a beloved program built around storytelling, as the story of Li Cunxin’s extraordinary life is told through the music of Katy Abbott.
June 10: The series ends with Dances Around the World, an energetic performance that moves through Hungary, China, Mexico and the United States with music by Johannes Brahms, Florence Price, Chen Yi, Ruth Crawford Seeger and Arturo Márquez.
Tiny Tots
The Tiny Tots series introduces instruments of the orchestra to the youngest listeners (ages 0–5) during 30-minute in-person, interactive concerts. Tiny Tots concerts include musicians sharing their favorite stories, songs and musical games; there are also pre-concert activities in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby that begin 30 minutes before the concert and are free with ticket purchase. In the 2022/2023 season, pre-concert activities include a xylophone orchestra, reading station, percussion play area and a concert-specific craft.
Tiny Tots also has a digital offshoot, Tiny Clips, which features Seattle Symphony musicians in a 10-minute interactive and fun virtual concerts, viewable on Seattle Symphony Live. Tiny Clips is hosted by Seattle Symphony Horn John Turman, who previously received a Ford Musician Award for his collaboration on the series.
Featured Performances by Young Artists
The 2022/2023 season’s Family Concerts Series also brings three featured Seattle Symphony Young Artists to center stage. In November, pianist Ruohan Huang joins the orchestra to perform Allegretto – Finale: Presto from Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major in Family Concerts: Nature Resounds. In April, violinist Tokuji Miyasaka performs Allegretto non troppo—Allegro molto vivace from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in Family Concerts: The Peasant Prince. Closing the series in June is pianist Nathaniel Zhang, who performs Rondo from Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in Family Concerts: Dances Around the World.
Ticket Information
For more information on tickets for Family Concerts and Tiny Tots please visit seattlesymphony.org or contact the Seattle Symphony Ticket Office. The Seattle Symphony Ticket Office is located in Benaroya Hall, at Third Avenue and Union Street. The Ticket Office can be reached by phone at 206.215.4747 during the following times: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
SUNNY XIA | CONDUCTOR
Recognized for her innate musicality, compelling presence and technical precision, conductor Sunny Xuecong Xia’s ability to forge an immediate and captivating connection with orchestras and audiences alike has led to engagements around the country. Recently appointed Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, Xia began her new position in September 2022. In the 2021/2022 season, Xia was selected as Conducting Fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, where she made her festival debut leading the world premiere of Marc Migó Cortés’ Dumka in July 2022. She led a production of La bohème with the Chandler Opera Company to great success and served as Assistant Conductor of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra. A dynamic advocate for contemporary music, Xia will be leading the Seattle Symphony in works by composers Katy Abbott, Chen Yi, Quinn Mason, Angelique Poteat, Gabriella Smith and Tan Dun in the 2022/2023 season.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY LIVE
Seattle Symphony Live brings the Seattle Symphony’s dynamic performances to audiences anywhere in the world. Launched in 2020 to offer musical comfort despite the pandemic, the digital streaming service reached a global audience of more than 750,000 viewers with its live concerts, behind the scenes interviews, educational videos and more.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony Live streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
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NATURE RESOUNDS
FAMILY CONCERTS
Saturday, November 5, at 11 a.m.
Sunny Xia conductor
Ruohan Huang piano
Angelique Poteat Breathe, Come Together, Embrace (Seattle Symphony Commission)
Debussy Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
W.A. Mozart Allegretto – Finale: Presto from Piano Concerto No. 17
Gabriella Smith Field Guide
Tan Dun Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds
THE SNOWMAN
FAMILY CONCERTS
Saturday, December 3, at 11 a.m.
Sunny Xia conductor
Jesse Barnes soprano
Northwest Boychoir chorus
Mason Quinn Christmas Eve Festivities
Eddie Wyle, George Pola It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Cohon ‘Hanerot Halalu’
Pierpont ‘Jingle Bells’
Leontovych ‘Carol Of The Bells’
Traditional ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’
Howard Blake The Snowman
RING IN THE HOLIDAYS
TINY CLIPS
Streaming: Saturday, December 3, at 11 a.m.
John Turman host
Michael A. Werner percussion
Matthew Decker percussion
James Benoit percussion
Rob Tucker percussion
WINTER WONDERLAND: WOODWIND QUINTET
TINY TOTS
Saturday, December 10, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Seattle Woodwind Quintet
MOTHER GOOSE: STRING QUARTET
TINY TOTS
Saturday, January 21, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Seattle Symphony Musicians
LOST & FOUND: PERCUSSION QUARTET
TINY TOTS
Saturday March 4, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Seattle Symphony Musicians
THE PEASANT PRINCE
FAMILY CONCERTS
Saturday, April 1, at 11 a.m.
Sunny Xia conductor
Tokuji Miyasaka violin
Beach Bal Masqué
Mendelssohn Allegretto non troppo—Allegro molto vivace from Violin Concerto
Katy Abbott The Peasant Prince
TIME TO TANGO: BRASS QUINTET
TINY TOTS
Saturday, June 3, at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Seattle Brass Quintet
DANCES AROUND THE WORLD
FAMILY CONCERTS
Saturday, June 10, at 11 a.m.
Sunny Xia conductor
Nathaniel Zhang piano
Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5
Price Dances in the Canebrakes
Chen Yi Duo Ye, No. 2
Chopin Rondo from Piano Concerto No. 1
Crawford Seeger Rissolty Rossolty
Arturo Márquez Danzon No. 2 for Orchestra
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor.
David Gordon's position is generously underwritten as the Boeing Company Principal Trumpet.
Jeffrey Fair's position is generously underwritten as the Charles Simonyi Principal Horn.
Seattle Symphony Family Programs are supported by The Klorfine Foundation.
Delta Air Lines proudly supports the Seattle Symphony’s Community Partnerships for Youth and Education.
The Seattle Symphony’s Family, School & Community programs are supported by 4Culture, Marco Argenti, ArtsFund, Merriman-Ross Family, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and individual contributions to the Seattle Symphony Annual Fund.